Reflections on the 2020 Campaign &
Thanks to all of those who supported my candidacy

NOVEMBER 2020 — With official results now in, I am honored to have received such broad support from my community. So many of you helped and together we turned out nearly 90% of voters, setting new records of votes cast in HD#62 for our Democratic statewide candidates. For example, in HD#62, Democratic statewide candidates received 17% more votes than Senator Tester did two years ago. Even though these races were lost on a statewide basis, the support and work of so many of you, my friends, was amazing and I am blessed and proud to have you as friends. As far as I can tell, I will be the first first practicing rabbi to ever serve in a state legislature. What's especially remarkable is that this first will happen in Montana.

I’m reflecting on how much gratitude I owe so many. My heartfelt thanks goes to my wife, Beth Lee, who has supported me in countless ways this last year, and to Carson Taylor, who has been my Campaign Treasurer. My campaign began more than a year ago, in a time when nobody had heard of COVID. In those first months, 17 different meet & greet events were held where I was able to explain why I was running, talk about the issues I care about, listen to the concerns and questions of so many, learn about the issues, and to raise the funds I needed to run. For hosting these events, inviting their friends, and more, I am eternally grateful to Nick Zelver & Aida Murga, Bruce Brown & Asako Brown, Carolyn J Boyd & John Berg, Tonya Stevens & Randy Babbitt, Stormi Oshun, Dr. Claire Putnam, Caroline Bird, Craig Groves & LeeAnne French, Michael & Erica Wallner, Laura & Terry Cunningham, Hillary Carls, Barbara Weeks Phinney & Ben Phinney, Richard Wolff & Janel Carino, Carrie Krause & Paul Lachapelle, Swep & Brenda Davis, Anne Ready, Chris Hedrick, Milica McDowell, Paul Herberger, Betty Stroock, Jackie Robin, Stephen Guggenheim & Amanda Cater, Dick & Janet Young, Benjamin Pierce& Penelope Pierce, Ed Lewis, Seth Cooper & Cassie Colombo, Steph Lourie & Claire Craig, Fabian Menalled & Irene Grimberg, Dennis Aig & Ann Bertagnolli, Frank & Jirina Cikan, Eric & Eugenia Funk, Jeni Fleming, Julie Gosswiller, Angela Ahn, Walt Weissman & Ruth Streigel, Bozeman Mayor Carson & Dede Taylor, Ross Rodgers & Ellen King-Rodgers, Dr. Rex Spear, Roger Lang & Lisa Lenard, Former Rep. Franke Wilmer, Former Senator Bob & Jane Hawks, Senator Mike & Linda Phillips, Bill Slaton & Kent Newton, Laurie Franklin & Sandy Ross, Josh Slotnick, Bert Chessin. John & Judith Heilman, Betsy & David Quammen, Greg Smith, Val Webster, Kevin Sylvester, and Diana Blank.

Once COVID set in, I had to shift my campaign to distributing literature and one-on-one socially distanced or telephone conversations. So many helped with this and I’m deeply indebted to Val Stefani. Billy McWilliams, Elisabeth Swanson, Jorie & Mark Ready, Connie Ostrovsky & Jerry Gossel, Lori & Scott Lawson, Nancy Crawford, Mary & Otto Stein, Barb & Ben Phinney, Kay & Marvin Lansverk, Deborah Hines, Cara Wilder, Susan McCarty, Jen & Steve Grace. Louis Rassaby & Shannon Ferguson, Suzanne Winchester, Rose Toth, Jeff Vick, Louise & Bill Weldon, Josh & Sally Dickinson, Craig Allen, Carol Anderson, Jerry Buckley, Jerry Coffey, Shirley & Dennis Davidson, Norm Eggert, Kim Epskamp, Beverly Fowler, Ginny Heimann, Lynn Paul, Sandy Knapp, Anne Ready, Bob Swinth. Sharon Glick & Jess Carroll, Ita Killeen & Stuart Challender, Jo Hadley, Owen Mitchell, Fabian Menalled, Betty Stroock, Heather Miller, Jan Strout, Patty Dickerson, Andi Baldwin, Katie Craig, Pat Simmons, Buzz Tarlow, Roxanne Klingensmith, and many others.

And I am thankful to the roughly 250 families who hosted my yard signs, the hundreds who publicly endorsed my campaign, the 400 or so of you who donated money or time to support my efforts, and so many more who have supported me along the way.